Sour Cream & Chive Twice Baked Potatoes with Ribeye Steaks

Like most guys, Mike's favorite dinner is Steak and Potatoes.  I've mentioned that a time or two on here...  While I almost always opt for mashed, he loves Twice Baked Potatoes, which I've never made before.  Oops.  I've always thought they were too much of a hassle, and weren't they just mashed potatoes put back into the skin?  What's the point of the extra work?

I decided to surprise Mike last week and make his favorite... but in my own way.  Most recipes call for sour cream, cheese and bacon all mixed in.  For me, that is too much.  Too many things going on and mashed together.  I need simpler flavors.

I decided on a really creamy filling (sour cream, cream cheese + chives) topped with cheddar that would melt in the oven.  We served the potatoes along with 16 oz. ribeyes on the grill and garlic roasted broccoli.

The twice baking really does make these potatoes different than just mashed potatoes.  They seem almost fluffier after being baked again - and creamier.  I'm a new fan of the Twice Baked for a couple of reasons- they are delicious, work best when made ahead of time (entertaining!), AND can be reheated easily for lunch the next day.  I'm also curious about freezing them.  As we head back into school and busy season, I like to use the freezer as much as possible.  Has anyone tried that?

Sour Cream & Chive
Twice Baked Potatoes

4 baking potatoes
.....
1/2 cup of sour cream
6 oz. of cream cheese, softened
fresh chives
sea salt & pepper
cheddar cheese, shredded

Begin by baking potatoes at 350 for 1 hour + 20 minutes until tender.  Slice in half and scoop out filling, putting it in the bowl of a mixer.  Add sour cream, cream cheese and chives.  Mix with paddle, on med-low until mixed and mashed thoroughly.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Scoop back into shells.  Place on baking sheet and top with cheddar cheese.  Before ready to serve, heat in 325 oven for about 20 minutes until heated through.

I use a towel to handle the hot potatoes while scooping.  You do want to make sure the potatoes are still hot when you mix them so they mash in the blender properly.

The mixer makes this so easy.

LOVE ribeyes on the grill.  We just do lots of salt before grilling, then pepper after.  We grilled these for about 4 minutes on each side, then let them rest for 10 minutes.

Can't imagine why this is Mike's favorite meal!

Key Lime Pie with Whipped Cream & Graham Cracker Crust

As Emma gets more interested in helping in the kitchen, I try to make a conscious effort to pick projects that she can do almost everything herself.  This Key Lime Pie is so simple; with only a few ingredients and only a mixing bowl and pie plate needed, she can take the lead... I guess there is a little food processor work, but she loves pushing the button, so that is also a win.

The entire thing only takes 10 minutes to put together, which is the perfect amount of time for her to stay interested.  I love that she is able to take ownership of it and can tell her Dad that she made it.

It is the same recipe that I use to make the Creamy Lemon Pie, but instead of lemon juice, I use Key Lime Juice - from a bottle.  I also make half of the filling for this pie because the key lime juice is extra tart, so I like it to be half pie filling and half whipped cream.  For parties, I've made it as mini, bite-size tarts or individuals in my brown paper tartpans for dinner parties.

Key Lime Pie

12 Graham Crackers
4 tablespoons of melted butter
1/4 cup of sugar
...
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup of key lime juice
...
1 pint of whipping cream
1/4 cup of sugar

Crust : Begin by making the graham cracker crust.  Pulverize graham crackers is a food processor.  Dump them in the pie plate, then add melted butter and sugar.  Mix with a fork, then press into the pan.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.

For the Filling :  Whisk together Sweetened Condensed Milk, Egg Yolks, and Lime Juice.

Pour into baked Graham Cracker Crust.

Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.  You can see where I tested the middle to make sure it had set up.

Cover the entire pie with lots of whipped cream.  I mixed the whipping cream and sugar in my kitchen aid with the whisk attachment for about 3 minutes.

Top with key zest.  Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving so it is chilled all the way through.  I'm curious about adding cream cheese and/or sour cream to the pie to make it a cross between a cheese cake and a pie.  Thoughts?  

I hope you try this during this last month of summer - I think the refreshing tartness goes well with almost any summer menu.

Entertaining Essentials Collection | Pewter & Marble Cake Stand, Classic Pitcher, Ice Bucket & Bottles Restocked

For the most part my product collections are seasonal with natural accents, colorful linens, home goodies or baking essentials for the season.  I wanted to take some time while we're in-between seasons to add some seasonless essentials to the store that should be used all year long.  These items have a place in my own home and not only do they make entertaining a breeze, but they double as decor pieces in our home.  

I've also restocked a lot of items that I consider essentials - kitchen brushes, all bottles, creamware platters, tumblers, parchment paper, cupcake paper, tart pans and le pens + tablets... and almost everything else.

 Above : Here is a quick screenshot of some of the Entertaining items in my store.   See all of the items, here.

Marble & Pewter Stands

I came across these last year and haven't been able to get them out of my mind since.  With solid Marble Tops and solid Pewter Bases, they are the real deal.  Heavy, beautiful, classic stands.  They are called catering stands, as they work great amongst platters to elevate wheels of brie or desserts for a party.  I can't wait to put a big homemade chocolate cake on top of one along with celebration candles - talk about a big impression dessert.

*Please note, since the bases are real pewter, they have a warmer coloring than the Classic Platters collection, which is made of recycled aluminum made to look like pewter.  They still look great together, but the stands have a slightly warmer tone.

Tall : 9.5"H x 14"W

Medium : 8.5"H x 13"W

Shop the Mable & Pewter Stands, here.

Classic Pitcher

I've had a pitcher like this for many years and it is always the first spot I turn to to put fresh peonies or hydrangeas.  Anything looks fabulous and effortless in this pitcher - even water ; )   It has a slightly rustic and imperfect finish, but its elegant lines make it classically sophisticated.

Dimensions: 8in W x 9.75in H

Shop the Classic Pitcher, here.

Above : 
Classic Ice Bucket

I imagine this Ice Bucket to be the center of many parties to come at our house - whether it be filled with champagne, a flower arrangement or piled with gourds this Fall.  What a great gift for a wedding or special anniversary - or yourself.

This is a special order item and can be expected to arrive within 1-2 weeks.

Dimensions: 15in L x 9.75in W x 9in H

Shop the Ice Bucket, here.


Entertaining Accents

The collection also includes small accents like these Salt & Peppers and Serving Spoons.  Sometimes these little touches add the perfect amount of charm to your home.

Shop all, here.

The Tumblers have been restocked, and a bigger version added, as well! 

All of the Kitchen Brushes & Bottles are restocked...

And all of the other bottles, too, finally : )

Shop the Bottle Collection, here.

Willow Hanging Basket

Another seasonless favorite - the Willow Hanging Basket is back.  Again, I missed out on getting one for myself last time, so I brought them back again.  I plan to fill it with big bunches of leaves on my front door in just a month or two.

Woodblock Collection

Finally, the Woodblock Pillows & Napkins are back instock, too!

Shop Woodblock Linen Collection, here.

I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of Summer.  It has flown by, but I'm aching for crisp Fall mornings and cooler temps already.  Fall is just around the corner, as is my Fall Collection - look for it in just a few weeks!

Bachelor Gulch Colorado Vacation | Itinerary for Beaver Creek & Vail

You may have guessed last week that we were on vacation.  We live in Kansas City, so one of our favorite getaways is Colorado.  The flight is about 1 hour to Denver, and the drive to the mountains is about 2 hours.  You may remember that we went two years ago when Emma was just 18 months old.  We'd said we would go back every year, but last year the summer got away from us.  Every year around the end of July/beginning of August I itch for a change of pace and a break from the heat and humidity.  This year we planned ahead (like 3 weeks...) and were so thankful to get out of town for a break just as the temps were peaking.

After our time in Boston, I realized how many people have not been to Colorado, or the Rocky Mountains.  Let me tell you, there is nothing quite like the clean, clean, fresh, sweet scent of Colorado mountain air.  The site of the mountains is breathtaking.  Breathtaking.

The people that live there live there by choice (for the most part) and they are all genuinely friendly, kind and happy.  Servers at restaurants, Bellmen at the hotel (who gave Emma a stuffed animal or lipgloss every day), staff running the chairlifts - everyone is so pleasant and kind.

I've included a slew of photographs from our trip as well as our itinerary, in case you get inspired.

 This is our hotel,  The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, the same hotel we stayed at two years ago.   Mike stockpiles all of his Marriott points the entire year of work travel for this splurge.  It is a very special spot - all by itself mid-mountain.

Because I had already documented the hotel last time, I didn't take any photos of it this time - but you can see the details, here, in my older post.

Day 1 : Travel Day
Day 2 : Gondola up Beaver Creek and 5 mile hike down

In case you think Emma's having the time of her life, she's actually saying "I just want to go back to the hotel and get in the hot tub."

She finally gave in to the carrier backpack and took a nap : )

That night we had dinner at Sweet Basil in Vail Village.  Vail is a pedestrian ski village full of people strolling and chatting with live music and fountains - it feels very European.

Day 3 : 1 Hour Drive to Turquoise Lake for Beach Picnic and Hike

Camera on the ground trying to out run the timer shot.  Emma got a kick out of watching mom try to run.

There is nothing like being knocked off of your feet by the pure majesty of nature.  I love vacations that do that for me - whether the ocean, the mountains or an awesome sunset.  I feel like that is always what I'm searching for on vacations - to be taken away from the rigors of everyday and to be reminded that I'm a small piece of a huge puzzle that moves and is beautiful without me directing it.  It helps me to remember to go with the flow and just enjoy.

This was such a peaceful afternoon.

Day 3 Dinner : Beano's Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain

Beano's is an Mountainside restaurant.  You have options of riding a horse up the mountain, taking a wagon ride or a shuttle.  Emma opted for the shuttle bus, which was just fine with me.

Emma's favorite part was frolicking in the meadow, of course.

Day 4 : Rodeo!  We spent most of the day at the pool, then treated Emma to a night at the Beaver Creek Rodeo.  She loves anything that involves face paint, though she wasn't initially excited about the actual rodeo.

Cotton Candy helped!

Thanks for joining us on a little memory photo tour.  We are back refueled and rejuvenated with lovely memories of fun family time.

Too often after busy seasons without a real break, the stress and anxiety of life can sneak up on me too quickly.   I'm trying to be better about scheduling our vacations and time off too relieve us before we are maxed out.  What are your favorite summer vacation spots?  I'm already thinking about our next trip : )